Automobile light controlling system



June 30, 1931. (3, z NHCHAELS 1,812,355

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Filed March 9. 1929 Inventor Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE GEORGE Z. MICHAELS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT CONTROLLING SYSTEM Application filed March 9,

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in light systems for automobiles and more particularly to a multiple circuit control whereby certain circuits may be energized to the exclusion of others within the scope of the control.

The principal object of this invention is to improve upon the conventional lighting sys tem of automobiles to the extent of providing a novel control whereby the usual high resistance or dim filament of the left or outside headlight may be energized during the incandescence of the low resistance or bright filament of the other headlight.

Another salient object of the invention is to provide headlight control means whereby the left headlight may be dimmed while the right headlight remains bright so that the drivers of vehicles approaching from the front will not be blinded by the glaring left headlight, while the right headlight supplies sufficient illumination of the edge portion of the road to permit a clear View of the road ahead, for the driver.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic View showing the various circuits of an automobile light system and improved to meet the requirements of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the plate of insulating material for supporting the contact of the switch, and to which connections from the lamps are made.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the opposite side of the insulating plate.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the switch means employed.

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation showing the manual control means.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, the diagrammatic view shows bulbs 33, one of which is adapted for installation in one of the usual headlight casings. These bulbs are of the type containing a high resistance filament 4 and a lowresistance filament 5. One leg of each filament of the left headlight is connected to the corresponding contact 4 or 5 of the control means generally referred to by the numeral 6. The remaining legs of the 1929. Serial No. 345,846.

filament of each bulb are bridged as at 7, and connected together by the jumper 8.

A conductor 9 extends from the jumper 8 for connection to the negative side of the battery 10, while the positive side of the battery is connected to the battery contacts 1111. A connector 12 extends from the contact 4 to a contact 13, located between the parking light contact 14 and one of the battery contacts 11.

The high resistance filament 4 of the right headlight bulb is connected to the contact 4a while the low resistance filament is connected to the contact 5a 5a. The tail light 15 is in the circuit 16 with the battery 10 and the pair of contacts 1717.

The aforementioned contacts are arranged in a circular formation on an insulating plate 18, and are preferably in the form of bushings 19 of conductive material disposed through openings in the plates, and being internally threaded to receive screws 20 to which the various connecting wires may be secured.

A movable switch element consists of an annulus 21 of suitable conductive material upon which a pair of arcuate spring contact members 22 are secured, at their intermediate points to diametrically opposite points on the annulus. Each spring contact member 22 is equipped at its respective ends with a contact head 23.

It is obvious that by manipulating the switch element, which in Fig. 1 will be designated by the numeral 24, certain connections may be made whereby the parking light and tail light may be lighted to the exclusion of the headlight, and the headlight lighted with the tail light to the exclusion of the parking light.

However, by moving the switch element so that the contacts 417 and 115a, are bridged, the stem or high resistance filament 4 of the left headlight will be energized during the incandescence of the low resistance filament 5 of the right headlight. Thus the right side of the road will be fully illuminated by the right headlight while only a dim beam of light is projected by the left headlight.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, it will be seen that I have illustrated the manual control means and stationary dial 30 includes indicia A B C D and E. Turning the handle 31 to indicia A, will turn on the parking light and tail lights, turning the handle to position B will light the two head dim lights and the tail light, to position C willcause all lights to be off, to position D will light the tail light, the left head-light on dim and the right headlight on bright, and to Ewil'l light the tail light and the two headlights on a bright.

tacts on said switch bridged together, and

said switch being adapted to close a circuit through said high resistance filaments or through said low resistance filaments or through one ofsaid high resistance filaments and one of said low resistance filaments and the source of current. 7

In testimony whereofl afiix my signature.

' GEORGE Z. MICHAELS.

When the handle is in positionl) this will I provide my traflic safety drivebecause it will keep, the driver safely on the road with the.

right headlight bright and will, protect the user of the highway from being blinded with the left headlight dim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Lighting system for automobiles comprising a pair of headlights each including a high resistance filaments and one of said lOWl'BSlStZlIlCG filaments and the source of current. V

2. A lighting system for automobiles comprising a pair of high, resistance Y filaments and a pair of low resistance filaments serving as headlights, a source of current connected to one side of each of said filaments, contacts connected one to the other side of each of said filaments, additional contacts connected one 7 to the left hand high resistance filament and one to the right hand low resistance filament,

a contact connected to said source of current, and a switch havlng a plurality of arms adapted to connect alternatively one of the contacts connected to each of the high'resistance filaments or one ofthe contacts connected toeach of the low resistance filaments V or the additional contacts connected to the left hand high resistance filament and the right handlow resistance filament with the contact connected to the source of current.

3. Lighting system for automobiles comprising a pair of headlights each including a a high resistance filament; and a low resistance filament, a source of current, circuits connecting one side of each of said filaments to the source ofcurrent, a switch, circuits connecting the other side of each of said filaments to the switch, a circuit from said switchfconnected tothe source of current, at least one of: r said circuitscomprising a plurality of'con' 

